Bulls Unite To Reach Finals

Bruce Jenkins, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, May 29, 1997

1997-05-29 04:00:00 PDT Chicago -- They were all watching it somewhere in Houston, everyone from Charles Barkley to Jeff Hornacek, because they couldn't afford not to. They figured to watch the Chicago Bulls move on to the NBA Finals, and there was hardly any drama to the result.

But nobody could have imagined the method. Even the Bulls couldn't have seen this coming. Their 100-87 victory over Miami in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals last night was an odd kind of masterpiece, one of their finest displays of team unity since the maiden championship in 1991.

It was Michael Jordan, scoring 28 points to lead the way, but it was also the rest of the team acting in harmony. Scottie Pippen turned into a spectator, going scoreless for the game after leaving with a sprained left foot in the first quarter, and it seemed like the entire city of Chicago rallied behind Jordan.

"The way Miami has played this series, trying to rough us up, it was almost like the old days against Detroit," said Jordan, who shot just 11-for-31 but turned in the kind of inspirational performance that doesn't register in box-score language. "They used to beat on us all the time. Eventually, you have to stand up and fight the bully. Tonight, I can't think of anyone who didn't step up for us."

So now they get to watch. It might take a while. If Utah wins in Houston tonight, the Finals will begin in Chicago's on Sunday. But if the Western Finals go to a seventh game (which would be Sunday at Salt Lake City), the Finals won't start until next Wednesday.

"Normally, I'd like to take a couple days off and get right back into it on Sunday," Jackson said. "But with Scottie's situation, maybe we could use a little more time to recuperate."

Pippen injured his foot with seven minutes gone in the ballgame, and he did not return. X-rays were negative, but Pippen said, "This thing's going to be a little tender for a while. Could I play on Sunday? That's a tough call right now."

The Bulls won't always be able to rally in Pippen's absence like they did last night, but it was something to watch. Chicago's bench outscored Miami's 33-12, but beyond the numbers, there was Jason Caffey's thundering slam-dunk in traffic; Jud Buechler's left-handed volleyball tip-pass to Randy Brown on the break; Toni Kukoc driving hard and forcefully for an inside hoop; Steve Kerr missing an outside shot,

getting the ball right back from Jordan and then burying one from the same range.

"I think a lot of people have sort of laughed at our bench lately, and tonight really showed what we can do," Kerr said. "I mean, every single guy came off the bench and did something."

As Jordan said later, "When Scottie went down, it was like the panic button went off. We had to find some help, and we got it. That's the sign of a good team -- a championship team."

Other snapshots: Dennis Rodman pulling up for a 3-pointer and burying it just as naturally as Glen Rice; Ron Harper a constant presence with his 6-for-9 shooting, eight rebounds, six assists, 14 points and arms thrust triumphantly in the air after his teammates' finest moments; and Luc Longley blocking the first shot from opposing center Alonzo Mourning.

In fact, that play sort of summed up the evening. Mourning hit just one shot, a forlorn 3-pointer, and committed seven turnovers in a virtual disappearance from the scene.

"I feel good about our season," Mourning said. "But not about tonight because we can do better than that. I know I can. Nothing excuses my performance at all."

Jordan, who turned his back on Mourning during the pre-tipoff handshakes, was just as intolerant later. Apparently, Jordan didn't take kindly to Mourning's entire approach to the series.

"He did it on himself," Jordan said. "We didn't do nothin'. He just talked himself out of the game."